White Belt Break-Aways

A break-away is exactly what it sounds like. Somebody has latched on to you and you want to break away from them. Ever heard of a child getting grabbed on a schoolyard and abducted? If the child had known how to execute a proper break-away they might have escaped long enough to run for help.

Break-aways will be your first foray into a multitude of joint locks, nerve attacks, and throws. The ONLY WAY TO LEARN THESE IS WITH A PARTNER(Uké). Hapkido always takes at least two people to learn. It is the only way to do it, if you don't have a partner, then find one!

White Belt Break Aways introduce students to Live Hands. If you would like to learn more about Live hands then Click HERE.

Across and Strike

Across and Strike looks very simple and it is but this simple exercise has a number of important lessons to teach.

The first thing Across and Strike teaches us is Live Hands. Simply put, Live Hands are opening your hand and extending your fingers. This has the effect of changing the profile of your arm and makes it more difficult for your opponent to maintain his grasp.

Some believe that an invisible force called Ki flows more strongly through an open hand and therefore it has power over the closed fist. We are not here to debate esoteric energies v.s. ordinary physics, we are here to learn Hapkido. I will discuss the concept of Ki more as you advance.

Suffice it to say that regardless of how Live Hands work, the bottom line is they definitely do work so do them!

1. The Uke grabs your wrist on the same side.

2. You close the distance with your feet not your arm.

3. While closing the distance you open your hand and extend your fingers (Live Hands)

4.Uke's Wrist will bend uncomfortably and his grasp will be broken

5. Once his grasp is broken you raise your other hand to protect your face

6. Draw back and then fire an elbow thrust strike directly into the opponents solar plexus. (Alternately this elbow strike can target the face or throat). DO NOT actually hit your uke with this you could seriously injure them. Stop the blow short in training.

In an actual survival situation driving your elbow into the solar plexus or sternum can have a devastating effect on your attacker. At minimum it will cause overwhelming pain and immobility.

More likely this move would fracture the sternum and could even break it like a board and drive sharp bone fragments into internal organs such as the heart. It could also separate the ribs from the sternum. Needless to say practice the technique carefully so as not to hurt your uke. If you should have to use this to defend yourself be warned, it could maim or kill.

If you want to practice developing power with an elbow strike utilize a padded non living target.

Down and Strike

Down and Strike is similar to Across and Strike but instead of moving laterally you shoot down and then deliver a rising elbow strike to the groin pelvic area.1. The Uke grabs your wrist on the same side.

2. You close the distance with your feet not your arm.

3. While closing the distance you open your hand and extend your fingers (Live Hands) and shoot your arm down towards your leading foot.

4.This time your wrist will simply shoot out of uke's hand.

5. Once his grasp is broken you raise your other hand to protect your face

6. Fire a risingelbow thrust strike directly into the opponents groin. DO NOT actually hit your uke with this you could seriously injure them. Stop the blow short in training.

The Pubis

In spite of what you might think a groin attack is usually not aimed at the testicles but in fact is aimed at breaking the pelvic arch at the point circled in red. If the two pelvic bones should become separated at that point the integrity of the entire structure is compromised and the fight is over.

Across the Bow

Ridge Arm Take Down

Spin Away

Spin away looks simple but surprisingly stumps a lot of beginners. The difficulty lies in assuming a balanced stance, spinning, and then resuming a balanced stance. I cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining balance.

Out The Door

Out the Door has much to teach us. The first thing it teaches us is making your strikes count. In this technique you strike the floating ribs twice, ideally in the exact same spot. A repeated attack on the exact same region of the body can be debilitating. Broken ribs make it hurt to even breathe much less fight. Also the arm on stricken side will lose much of its power and mobility. If this technique were utilized at full speed and power the broken rib fragments could puncture the lungs and cause further complications. Needless to say your attacker would need medical care. Use wisely.

Another thing Out the Door teaches is the use of a Distraction to alter your opponents focus.

The final thing Out The Door teaches us is Counter Intuitive Motion. The entire technique just seems unnatural, especially from the uké's point of view.

1. First uké grabs the wrist (same side wrist grab).2. You raise the grasped arm high enough to pass beneath it.3. Step through the door into a fighting stance execute an elbow strike to floating ribs4. Rotate your body into an 'L' Stance facing the opposite direction execute 5. While rotating execute either a second elbow strike or a knife hand strike to the same spot.6. With the back foot execute an instep stomp kick to the back of the knee.7. With this particular technique it is best to either use the blade of the foot or the arch of the foot.

The floating ribs are defined as the lower ribs that do not directly attach to the sternum. Generally they are the weakest of the ribs.

The final move in out the door is a simultaneous rear shoulder grab and Instep Stomp Kick to the back of the attackers knee. The force should strike just above the knee joint and then slide into the slot bending the knee. If you hit lower than the knee you missed.

Push Away

Push Away is a very basic technique that can be learned in minutes. Push away highlights that the thumb is the weakest link in your opponents grasp. Most uke's are surprised by the feeling of getting pushed off balance by this neat little move.

Radial Nerve Strike

The radial nerve follows the radius bone in the forearm. This is one of two bones in the forearm on the thumb side of the arm. A radial nerve strike is a quick powerful strike that pinches the nerve between the striker and the bone.

To execute, the hand that is in the opponents grasp opens up to form live hands. The other hand draws up and crashes down on the nerve. Aim a centimeter or two above the wrist bones, accuracy counts. You can use a hammer fist or a knife hand.

Christian Thoughts: Radial Nerve Strike Divinely Inspired?

One day I was really delving into the technique Radial Nerve Strike with a Yellow Belt Student and I had a revelation. His position was incorrect and he was missing the radial nerve. I explained that it’s like hammering a nail into wood. “Do you hammer at this awkward angle or do you try to square up your body to the nail and drive it strait in?” I demonstrated to an invisible nail in the air. He seemed to understand and when we tried the technique again he stepped and rotated a bit, squared his shoulders to the target and delivered a well placed Radial Nerve Strike. Pain shot through my arm. For a moment I reflected on my love for Hapkido and how it teaches you things every time you do it.Then it happened. The clouds parted and my eyes were opened to the truth. I showed him again, “pretend you are driving a nail into wood” and then I pointed to the radial nerve on my own arm. Suddenly I saw it! A nail being driven into His arm, painfully and unmercifully through the radial nerve pinning the arm to the wooden cross.I believe that when Grand Master Rodemaker was creating Tactical Hapkido many elements of our curriculum were divinely inspired. I am so thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus, my Lord and Savior I am also very thankful that our organization was created by a good, praying Christian Grand Master so that I might routinely experience such sublime love from God. I am blessed to learn from men such as Grand Master Rodemaker and Master Feathers who are clearly being utilized by God to transmit his love and his message.I shared my epiphany with my student Rob and the realization was incredible. I think we both shared a divine moment and it strengthened our bond with Him.

Spin Out to Elbows

Spin out to Elbows is largely an exercise in footwork. The goal is to break away and place yourself behind your attacker.1. Both uke and tori stand at ready face to face. 2. Uke performes a same side wrist grab.3. Tori steps with the same side foot into hard bow stance4. Tori spins away from wrist grab rotating about same side foot 180 degrees.5. Now Tori and Uke are facing opposit directions6. Tori strikes with two rapid rear elbow strikes to the lower and upper spine.

Potential Targets and the Scary results of Spinning Out to Elbows

Folks, Hapkido is a devestating fighting art. The examples below demonstrate just how much damage one person can do to another, be responsible.

Hitting the back of the neck can and likely will damage the third vertebrae. The result is pain, numbness, tingling, and possibly paralysis.An optional target is the back of the head. An elbow strike here will definitely cause unconsciousness and likely a concussion. If delivered with great force it can cause blindness, brain damage, and a coma.

An elbow strike between the shoulder blades will cause pain, shock, and if delivered with enough force can cause spinal damage. At the very least it will likely knock your opponent off balance.

Spin In to Elbow

Spin in to Elbow is designed to get inside your opponents guard and deliver a fight ending blow to the solar plexus.1. This time tori steps with the opposite side foot towards uke2. Tori rotates about same side foot and delivers a radial nerve strike to breakaway.3. Rotation continues Tori drives point of elbow into uke's solar plexus.4. In practice you stop short in reality the elbow strike and rotation continue till uke collapses backward.